Rabies vaccine shortage in Ctg puts lives at risk

Highlights:

• General Hospital out of stock for a month
• Poor patients most at risk
• 60–80 patients turned away daily
• No free vaccine since 1 June
• Only notice: buy from outside 
• City Corporation hospital near empty
• Patients forced to buy outside for Tk650

A severe healthcare crisis has gripped Chattogram as the government-supplied rabies vaccine has been unavailable at the Chattogram General Hospital for nearly a month, putting the lives of animal bite victims—especially from low-income backgrounds—at serious risk.

The Chattogram General Hospital, the district's only dependable public facility for free rabies vaccination, has been out of stock since 1 June due to halted supply from Dhaka. 

Each day, an estimated 60 to 80 people seek the vaccine here, but none can be treated. A notice outside the hospital's emergency vaccination room now reads: "Rabies vaccine supply is temporarily unavailable. Patients must purchase vaccines from outside."

Rabies is a deadly viral infection caused by the RABV virus. If untreated, the disease can rapidly spread to the brain and lead to death. 

Medical experts stress that a full course of four vaccines—starting immediately after a bite—is essential to prevent serious neurological complications.

No alternative public facilities 

Chattogram, with 41 city corporation wards and 15 upazilas, has no other public facilities offering the vaccine for free, leaving the poor especially vulnerable.

Patients from both the city and rural areas are being turned away or forced to buy costly doses from the outside pharmacies. 

The Chattogram City Corporation General Hospital, which provides the vaccine for a nominal charge among city dwellers, is also nearly out of stock.

During a visit last Thursday, TBS correspondent saw patients arriving from both city neighborhoods and distant upazilas, bearing bite wounds from dogs, cats, and livestock. Many waited for hours only to leave empty-handed.

Patients forced to pay high prices 

Abdur Rahman, a day labourer from Karnaphuli upazila, brought his 10-year-old son to the hospital after a dog bite. "Doctors here are asking me to buy it from outside for Tk700. I don't have that kind of money," he said with anguish.

A few others have been purchasing it from nearby pharmacies for Tk650–700 per vial and back to the hospital to administer it. 

Mohammad Shahid, the hospital's storekeeper, said, "We've repeatedly requested vaccines from Dhaka. Even when we asked for 5,000 doses, we used to receive just 500–700. Now we've received nothing."

Acting Superintendent of Chattogram General Hospital Dr Ekram Hossain admitted the crisis, saying, "A large number of patients come here daily. But we haven't received any supply since 1 June. We've informed the higher authorities."

The Chattogram City Corporation also faces shortages. Dr Mohammad Imam Hossain, its chief health officer, said, "Last year, we procured 3,500 doses with our own funds. Our stock is almost depleted."

Call for urgent action 

Public health experts warn that incomplete rabies treatment can be fatal. "Rabies vaccines are highly effective, but only if the full course is taken," said Dr Somen Palit. "Patients at high risk also need rabies immunoglobulin (RIG), which is expensive and hard to find."

Despite several attempts, TBS could not reach Dr Aung Sui Pru Marma, director of the Chattogram Divisional Health Office, as he did not receive phone calls.

Contacted, Dr Halimur Rashid, line director of Communicable Diseases Control at the DGHS, told TBS, "We have procured rabies vaccines, and there will be no further shortages. The vaccines will be distributed to hospitals shortly."

With lives at risk, both doctors and patients are urging the health ministry to act immediately and restore the supply of this life-saving vaccine in Chattogram.